Their work was spotlighted recently at Fashion Week San Antonio's Current Collections, a premiere showcase among other events and parties that drew fashionistas together from across the city to the eight-day event that ended Monday.

Surrounded by framed art on the walls of the Blue Star Contemporary Art Center, models wearing garments created by the talented quartet took to the runway that drew 200 appreciative guests.

The show was produced by fashion publicist Tony Harris, owner of his own fashion-production company. Harris organized several of the week's events.

During the weeks leading to the emerging-designer platform, Harris said he offered direction to the four designers from which one was named the winner, à la reality television's "Project Runway."

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Ramirez's fall collection, inspired by burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese and legendary comedian Lucille Ball (during her "I Love Lucy" era), was a send-up of pretty circle skirts hand-studded at the hemlines and teamed with sheer dotted long-sleeved blouses. A standout was Ramirez's voluminous plaid halter dress with a full skirt, accented with a large bow at the neck.

"This was an added bonus," he said and graciously thanked the grateful audience. And then this: "You'll be seeing more of me!"

Mata, who welcomed guests to the show, is well known in San Antonio for her one-of-a-kind sophisticated designs worn by socialites as well as her love for avant-garde creations. She said Ramirez was the clear choice because his collection "was the most concise" among the group. "His garment construction was the best. Overall, I liked the look he sent out - from head to toe, he had an appealing aesthetic."

Garza, too, agreed on Ramirez's winning work. "His construction was on point, and the styling was on trend." She said the decision was tough given the exemplary work from all the designers.

Andrews, who has attended IADT and is working on a bachelor's degree in fashion design from the acclaimed Academy of Art in San Francisco, sent out a "Daring in Prints" collection that included wide-leg pants in a bold check paired with a black sequined top. An edgy animal-print pencil skirt was teamed with a purple knit top. She was on trend with peplum detailing, skinny-leg trousers and an elegant A-line ball-gown skirt.

Plascencia, a past best-construction winner from the University of the Incarnate Word's Cutting Edge Fiesta fashion show, called her collection "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" - a combination of looks that were all at once fresh, edgy and dark in jersey knits and leather designs.

Among her best looks was a lovely fitted green jersey floor-length gown accessorized with a high-neck feathered choker and another tight gown, this one in black with a front sheer inset on a plunging neckline. A bold red leather jacket tricked out with safety pins across the shoulders and down the sleeves added a tough-girl avant-garde vibe to the strong and dramatic collection.

Hudson's "Great Gatsby" collection included a silk crepe copper gown with dramatic shoulders and an open back. Another copper design was a wide-leg jumpsuit with a deep-V neckline. But her best design was an elegant - and sexy - tight wool gabardine ladylike red dress with peak shoulders, an exposed back and a flirty pleated hemline just below the knees. She also worked with pre-pleated satin to create a gown with a high front slit that featured a wide pleather inset of color blocking across the waistline.

Guests at the event had much praise for the innovative efforts of the designers.

Fashion expert Leandra Hernandez, like others, said, "There's talent in our city, but it just needs to be cultivated and appreciated" with shows like Current Collections.

Mata, who has shown during New York Fashion Week and has organized several fashion showcases for undiscovered San Antonio talent, reminded the designers and guests that she "knows what it feels like" to get a jump start in the very competitive fashion industry.

She encouraged the designers to persevere, work hard and believe in themselves.

"Ambition and dedication is what it takes," she said after the show. "And often, very little sleep."